British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to choose a new ambassador to the United States. Among the candidates is Nigel Casey, head of the British diplomatic mission in Russia, The Guardian reports.
Starmer has interviewed three candidates, but may still decide to appoint someone else, the newspaper reports. Downing Street expects to select a new ambassador by the end of the year.
In addition to Casey, candidates include Varun Chandra, a business adviser to the prime minister who has helped broker a number of deals with Donald Trump's administration, and Christian Turner, a diplomat who will become ambassador to the United Nations.
Chandra, a former managing partner at the think tank Hakluyt, has played a central role in negotiating bilateral agreements with the United States in the areas of trade, technology and pharmaceuticals and is considered a leading contender, the newspaper noted. However, the Foreign Office is pushing to choose a diplomat: Turner previously worked at the Foreign Office and was High Commissioner to Pakistan, while Casey was High Commissioner to South Africa and Private Secretary to former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May.
The ambassador to Russia was included in the list at the last minute, which is seen as a sign that Downing Street is disappointed with the Foreign Office’s initial list, according to The Guardian. If Starmer is not happy with any of the three candidates, he may decide to appoint someone else.
Last week, the Prime Minister met with the US Ambassador to the UK, Warren Stevens, at Downing Street to discuss the implementation of trade and technology agreements with Washington.
As The Guardian notes, Starmer has built a strong personal relationship with Trump, but London and Washington have significant differences, including on green energy and culture. Relations between the US and Europe have also deteriorated amid the White House's growing impatience with the conflict in Ukraine, the newspaper noted.
The post of US ambassador became vacant in September after the dismissal of Peter Mandelson amid the scandal surrounding the investigation into investment banker Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of trafficking minors for the purpose of sexual exploitation. In his emails, Mandelson, who once called Epstein his "best friend", urged the financier to "fight for early release" and assured him that "your friends are still with you and love you", The Guardian reported.